The Polyphony of Food: Food Through the Prism of Maslowas Pyramid

The Polyphony of Food explores food as a multiple discourse in the context of Abraham Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of human needs and motivations. In Maslow’s theory, food as a basic psychological need belongs to the tier of D (deficit) needs. However, it is the author’s assumption that food and eating cut across the whole hierarchical board of human motivations. In many cases, food takes on compensatory functions and stands for other needs, thus satisfying the entire range of D, and even of B (being) needs. Food is an expression of material culture and marks dominant social distinctions in society, such as gender, class, religion, age, profession and ethnicity. Apart from being highly ritualized, food serves to highlight what people find beautiful or ugly, what they view as acceptable and unacceptable, proper or improper. Numerous illustrations and anecdotes aim to prove that food and meals are a means to feel safe and secure, to affirm cultural and social identity, and to serve as a vehicle of bonding, affiliation, belonging, acceptance, love and esteem as well as a means of self-actualization. A special emphasis is placed on the concept of food appropriateness which is linked to politeness and viewed from several standpoints.

“"The Polyphony of Food by Irina Perianova is a delightful book written in a neo-Epicurean fashion, fascinating and profound, broad in area and deep in analysis, fulfilling its goals to give a holistic concept of a very significant aspect of humanity. It is structured in seven chapters following the traditional sacred number of prosperity and is based on the tiers of Maslow's pyramid of needs. The discourse of food is analysed not only as a linguistic event but as the outcome of social attitudes and practices. A wealth of examples and anecdotes, both fictional and non-fictional, absorb the reader as they become co-authors of the book, verifying each claim by adding facts from their own experience."- Dr Gergana Pencheva-Apostolova, South West University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria"A refreshingly varied and multi-faceted engagement with food and meals explored through the prism of A. Maslow's pyramid of human motivations. It answers the question [of] why food often becomes the centrepiece of cultural clashes in a multicultural society."- Dr Larisa Paszkowska, Academy of Humanities and Economics, ”

“The Polyphony of Food by Irina Perianova is a delightful book written in a neo-Epicurean fashion, fascinating and profound, broad in area and deep in analysis, fulfilling its goals to give a holistic concept of a very significant aspect of humanity. It is structured in seven chapters following the traditional sacred number of prosperity and is based on the tiers of Maslow’s pyramid of needs. The discourse of food is analysed not only as a linguistic event but as the outcome of social attitudes and practices. A wealth of examples and anecdotes, both fictional and non-fictional, absorb the reader as they become co-authors of the book, verifying each claim by adding facts from their own experience.”– Dr Gergana Pencheva-Apostolova, South West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria“A refreshingly varied and multi-faceted engagement with food and meals explored through the prism of A. Maslow’s pyramid of human motivations. It answers the question [of] why food often becomes the centrepiece of cultural clashes in a multicultural society.”– Dr Larisa Paszkowska, Academy of Humanities and Economics, Łódź, Poland“The book is a useful reminder that we communicate in many different ways. It provides a synergy of ideas in a variety of cross-disciplinary domains. What makes The Polyphony of Food unique is that it espouses a philosophy of intercultural understanding through food and meals.”– Prof. Dimitar Vesselinov, St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Bulgaria“[F]ascinating reading on a fascinating subject!”– Prof. Rodica Albu, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, Romania

Irina Perianova received her PhD from Moscow Linguistic University. For many years, she has taught at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her interdisciplinary research interests include cultural anthropology, discourse analysis, pragmatics, intercultural communication, and sociolinguistics. She has published extensively on these subjects in different languages. Irina Perianova is on the Executive Board of the Bulgarian chapter of ESSE (European Society for English Studies) and a winner of several research grants in different countries.

The Polyphony of Food explores food as a multiple discourse in the context of Abraham Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of human needs and motivations. In Maslow's theory, food as a basic psychological need belongs to the tier of D (deficit) needs. However, it is the author's assumption that food and eating cut across the whole hierarchical board of human motivations. In many cases, food takes on compensatory functions and stands for other needs, thus satisfying the entire range of D, and even of B (being) needs. Food is an expression of material culture and marks dominant social distinctions in society, such as gender, class, religion, age, profession and ethnicity. Apart from being highly ritualized, food serves to highlight what people find beautiful or ugly, what they view as acceptable and unacceptable, proper or improper. Numerous illustrations and anecdotes aim to prove that food and meals are a means to feel safe and secure, to affirm cultural and social identity, and to serve as a vehicle of bonding, affiliation, belonging, acceptance, love and esteem as well as a means of self-actualization. A special emphasis is placed on the concept of food appropriateness which is linked to politeness and viewed from several standpoints.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.